Rushing to put the heating on

Good news for kerosene suppliers – Britain is a nation of cold weather cowards who rush to put the heating on at the slightest sign of a chill.

According to a survey of 1,084 UK homeowners by Emo Oil, more than a third (36%) of people turn on the heating during summer months despite generally warmer weather.

Less than one in three (29%) put on an extra layer when the unpredictable Great British weather takes a cool turn, despite this being common advice from older generations.

Although recent summers have contained record numbers ofhottest days, the nation is still quick to turn on the central heating – on average, 18 times during the summer months.

“It’s shocking to see just how easily Britons are tempted to switch on the heating for instant satisfaction during summer,” said Suzanne Waddell, marketing manager at Emo Oil.

“Although there’s no guarantee of warm weather during the Great British summer, there are alternatives to turning the central heating on.

“The research shows a picture of who in the UK is quickest to hit the thermostat for a blast of welcoming warmth, with a north/south divide quite apparent – those further down south seem to hold their nerve a little longer.”

Research revealed women were more likely to switch on the central heating, doing so 24 times on average during the summer months, while men did so just 12 times.

Those in Durham (42%) were most likely to turn on their central heating, followed by Carlisle (39%). In Bristol 24% resorted to central heating help, and in Manchester 28%.